Blur star Dave Rowntree's terminally ill ex-wife travels to Dignitas alone to end own life

Blur drummer Dave Rowntree has criticised 'psychopathic' laws on assisted death as he revealed for the first time that his terminally ill ex-wife felt compelled to end her life alone in Switzerland earlier this year.

The 60 year old voiced his frustration over existing laws that present some people with terminal illnesses with the 'brutal' choice of wanting to end their lives, but being unable to legally request assistance from others.

His remarks come just weeks before a new bill proposing changes to the law on assisted dying in England and Wales under strict controls is due to be published.

Rowntree married Paola Marra in 1994 but the pair divorced in the early 2000s. Despite splitting, Rowntree was one of the people to support his ex-wife after she was diagnosed with terminal bowel cancer and later made the decision to end her own life in Zurich, Switzerland.

Marra, a Canadian, opted to fly out alone in March this year after facing several rounds of arduous treatment and surgeries. Knowing her cancer was terminal, she didn't want to face a probably painful and undignified death. Her pain was made worse due to the fact she was allergic to painful painkillers.

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